Buoyant bathing device



May 29, 1934. BRQWNE 1,960,474

- BUOYANT BATHING DEVICE Filed Dec. 8, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet l May 29, 1934. M. P. BROWNE 60,474

BUOYANT BATH lNG DEVICE Filed Dec. 8, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 y 1934- M. P. BROWNE 1,960,474

BUdYANT BATHING DEVICE Filed Dec. 8, 1951 '4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Zzven iav;

I May 29, 1934. M p BROWNE 1,960,474

BUOYANT BATHING DEVICE Filed Dec. 8, 1951 V 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 I NITED sr'rss PAE caries BUOYANT BATHING DEVICE Montague P. Browne, Buffalo, Y. Application December 8, 1931, Serial No. 579,718

5 Claims.

This invention relates generally to improvements in water sport devices or appliances and articularly to a device designed for the amusement of bathers.

One of its objects is the provision of a buoyant water appliance of this character which is so esigned as to not only protect its buoyant elements from over expansion, but also to afiord absolute safety to the bathers by the elimination of parts with which the bather is liable to ecomes entangled or accidentally caught.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a water sport device which is designed articularly for use with the inner tubes of automobile tires, whereby such tubes may be readily inserted and removed to and from the device.

A still further object is the provision of a water appliance of this character which is simple, comact and inexpensive in construction, and which when not in use may be compactly folded.

In the accompanying drawings:- Figure 1 is a top plan view of a water sport device embodying my invention. Figure 2 is an enlarged transverse section thereof, taken on line 2-2, Figure 1. Figure 3 is a perspective View of the fabric bag or body from which the device is made. Figure 4 is a top plan view of a modified form of the invention. Figure 5 is an enlarged transverse section thereof, taken on line 5-5, Figure 4. Figure 6 is a perspective view of the body of the device shown in Figure 4. with the inflated tubes removed. Figures 7 and 8 re top plan views of other modifications of the invention. Figure 9 is a top plan view of a further modification of my invention. Figure 10 is n enlarged cross section taken on line 10-10,

Figure 9.

Similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

In its general organization, my improved water sport device or appliance is in the form of a uoyant body designed for use with the inner r like buoyant elements and completely encasing them and limiting their expansion so as to preent breakage of the tubes, and a substantially flat platform-like section disposed between the pockets and constituting a support for the ather.

Referring now to Figures 1, 2 and 3, showing ne form of my invention, 15 indicates a woven fabric bag of netting, canvas or like material which is provided adjacent its outer or marginal edges with concentric inner and outer rows of stitching or lacing l6 and 17 to provide a substantially circular pocket or envelope 18 for the reception of a buoyant element such as an inflatable tube 19. Contained within the area defined by the tube-pocket 18 is a substantially flat or platform-like section 20, the inflatable tube maintaining the same taut and distended to form a convenient platform for the user. In assembling the tube, the same is inserted in a deflated condition into the bag 15, after which the stitching or lacings l6 and 17 are made to form the pocket 18. As seen in Figure 1, the tube valve 21 projects inwardly over one side of the platform 20 where it is exposed for conveniently inflating or deflating the tube when desired.

At its opposite ends, the device may be provided with suitable hand-holds or grips 22, which may be formed by drawing in the resulting corners of the bag produced when forming the tubepocket 18, as seen in Figure 1.

In the modification of the invention shown in Figures 4, 5 and 6, the same is designed to receive two buoyant elements or inflatable tubes, and to this end the fabric body 23 is provided along its opposite sides and adjoining rear ends with separate pockets or envelopes 24 which are open at their front ends, as indicated at 25 in Figure 6, to permit of the insertion and removal of the tubes 26. As shown in Figure 4, the tubes are first folded upon themselves and then inserted with the two halves of the tube disposed in overlying relation. The pockets 24 may be formed by stitching or lacing 27 and the open ends 25 of the pockets may be detachably closed in any suitable manner, as by lacing or otherwise. Disposed between the tube-pockets is a platform-section 28, and contraction of the front end of the device may be prevented by inserting a stay or like element 29 between the open ends of the pockets 24, as shown in Figure 4.

In the modified form of the invention shown in Figure '7, the same is designed to receive three inflatable tubes 30 and is of triangular shape in plan, consisting of an intermediate or platform section 31 and surrounding pocket-sections 32, which pocket-sections may be integrally formed with the intermediate section 31, or if desired, these pocket-sections may be separate and suitably attached to such intermediate section by stitching, lacings or otherwise. Each pocket is open at one end to permit of the insertion and removal of the tubes 30 which are folded upon themselves in the same manner as set forth in the previously described construction, and the open ends of the pockets may be closed by stitching or lacing 33 or any other appropriate means.

In the modification of the invention shown in Figure 8,. the device is circular in shape and utilizes two tubes 34 disposed in concentric relation to provide an outer buoyant section 35 and a central or intermediate platform-section 36. In this case the device may be made from two pieces of fabric or like material disposed in overlying relation with the tubes 34 disposed between them, the tubes being confined in circular pockets formed by annular rows of stitching or lacing 37.

The modified form of the invention shown in Figures 9 and 10 is similar to that shown in Figure 4, and consists of two forwardly-converge ing pockets or envelopes 38 joined at their inner edges to a platform section 39, the whole being made from a single blank of fabric material. Removably arranged in these pockets are inflatable tubes 40 which may be folded upon themselves in the manner previously described. In one side thereof, each pocket is provided with an opening 41 through which its tube may be inserted and removed and such opening may be closed by any appropriate fastening means 42.

I claim as my invention:-

1. A water sport device, comprising a body of web-like material having a platform-like section and an envelope section bordering thereon and adapted to receive, in a folded, deflated condition an inflatable ring-like buoyant element, said 1 envelope section having an opening therein for the insertion and removal of said buoyant element whenfolded upon itself in a deflated condition.

2. A water sport device, comprising a body of webbing material having longitudinal pockets along its opposite sides open at one end and an intermediate platform-like section between said pockets, individual buoyant elements arranged in said pockets and each consisting of an inflatable tube folded upon itself to provide overlying longitudinal portions, said tubes being insertable and removable through the open ends of said pockets, and means for closing the pockets at their open ends.

3. A water sport device, comprising a body of fabric material having longitudinal pockets along its opposite sides converging toward one end for receiving individual and incommunicable buoyant elements, and an intermediate section disposed crosswise between said pockets, and a stay disposed between the opposite ends of said pockets.

4. A device of the character described, comprising a plurality of comparatively long and narrow envelope-like sections made of flexible material and disposed in adjoining relation to provide a support for the user, and buoyant elements arranged in said sections and protected thereby against expansion beyond a safe limit, each of said elements consisting of an inflatable tube folded upon itself to provide overlying portions arranged lengthwise of its envelope-like section.

5. A buoyant bathing device, comprising a body including a comparatively long pocket-shaped member of flexible material having an opening at one end, and an inflatable tube arranged in said pocket and insertable therein through said opening, said tube being circular and folded upon itself to provide overlying portions arranged lengthwise in the pocket.

MONTAGUE P. BROWNE. 

